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It’s Almost 2017, and Here’s What Your Organization Needs to Do—and Not Do—in the Coming Year

By Dustin McKissen, November 08, 2016

2016 is almost over, and it’s not too soon to start thinking about what your organization
needs to accomplish in 2017.

Here are a few things that
should be on your list—and one that shouldn’t.

1. You need to create a succession plan for your
organization’s leadership.

Succession planning is
critically important for your board of directors. Do you have someone ready to
step in and serve as president when your current president’s term ends? Do they
know what leading a board is really like, and how different it is than “merely”
serving on a board? Have you created accurate, comprehensive job descriptions
to describe what is expected of board officers?

Have you begun identifying candidates to fill
future board vacancies?

If the answer to any of these
questions is no, you need to make succession planning a priority in 2017.

How are you reaching your
stakeholders? Are you using the right tools? If you’re a trade association that
serves primarily farmers in their 70s, chances are Snapchat is not the most-effective
tool to reach your members. On the other hand, colleges that are not using
Snapchat are probably missing a great opportunity to reach their audience.

Despite all of the
communications tools and platforms at our disposal, reaching your target
audience has, in some ways, become more difficult.

That’s why you need a
strategy.

In fact…

3. You need to develop a strategic plan.

2016 was a year of change, and there is no
reason to think 2017 won’t be just as eventful.

Your organization needs to be
prepared. You need to have a strategic plan that is developed collaboratively,
with input from all levels of your organization, and can be adapted to a
rapidly changing environment.

All of those tasks are
critically important to your organization’s future.

And they all take time.

Time you won’t have, if you
are spending precious hours and resources creating board binders for your next
meeting.

Luckily, BoardPaq can help
free up some of your time. Our
cost-effective board portal will allow you to run paperless meetings, create
minutes faster, and communicate with your board and committees faster and more
easily than ever before.

While 2016 isn’t quite over
yet, it’s not too early to look toward 2017 and what your organization can
accomplish in a new year.

Dustin McKissen is the founder of McKissen + Company, an association management and marketing firm. He is a Certified Association Executive and has served as an executive or consultant to a wide variety trade associations, professional societies, and nonprofits.